In a somber response to a devastating accident, Portugal has declared a National Day of Mourning on Thursday, September 4, 2025, following the catastrophic derailment of a funicular railway in its capital city of Lisbon.
The tragic incident occurred on the evening of Wednesday, September 3, when a tram-like car of the historic Elevador da Glória, one of Lisbon’s iconic yellow-and-white funiculars, derailed and crashed into a building during evening the rush hour. The accident claimed the lives of at least 17 people, with 21 others injured, including a young child.
The Elevador da Glória is a beloved fixture of Lisbon’s transport heritage. First opened in 1885 and electrified in 1915, the funicular runs between Restauradores Square in downtown Lisbon and the Bairro Alto neighborhood, carrying roughly three million passengers annually. Its unique set-up uses two cars connected by a steel haulage cable: as one ascends, the other descends, a true funicular system.
Details of the crash have painted a harrowing picture: footage shows one car hurtling off the tracks, crashing into a building, reportedly after losing the ability to brake, while the other jolted at the bottom, prompting passengers to flee through windows. Investigators suspect a cable failure or loss of brake control, with union officials noting prior worker concerns over cable tension issues, despite the operator Carris asserting that all maintenance protocols, including daily, weekly and monthly inspections, had been properly carried out.
The emergency response was swift: police and rescue teams cordoned off the scene as investigators combed through debris and assessed the broken braking system. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa extended condolences to grieving families, while the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, deemed the event “a tragedy of the like we’ve never seen,” announcing three days of municipal mourning for the city.
In solidarity, flags were flown at half-mast across the country and at EU institutions, marking Portugal’s profound collective grief. Authorities also suspended operations on all similar funicular lines in Lisbon to carry out safety inspections.
As officials continue investigating the cause, including potential cable or brake failure, the nation reflects on a beloved landmark’s tragic downfall and mourns the lives lost in the heart of its historic capital.
